Dual Agreements with KHP and USHJA Bring Hall of Fame to the “Horse Capital of the World”

May 3, 2010

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum is moving from its long-time home at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla., to its new home at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Agreements with both the Kentucky Horse Park and the United States Hunter-Jumper Association (USHJA) will give the Hall of Fame a presence at two locations at the Horse Park. The museum aspect of the Hall of Fame will be housed in the park’s new building that is home to the USHJA, and the plaques highlighting the careers of the men, women and horses who have been honored with induction into the Hall of Fame will be displayed in the park’s new outdoor stadium. “The Kentucky Horse Park is the center of equestrian sport in this country, attracting thousands of visitors each year,” said George Morris, president of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. “And with this year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, that number will be significantly greater. We are looking forward to sharing this country’s show jumping history with these many visitors and we thank the Kentucky Horse Park and the USHJA for giving us a new home in the horse capital of the world!”

Jane Beshear, First Lady of Kentucky, stated, “As a life-long equestrian competitor, I have seen firsthand the kind of dedication and teamwork that it takes for human and equine athletes to achieve Hall of Fame status, so I am pleased to see the Show Jumping Hall of Fame come to the Kentucky Horse Park where these individuals will be honored for decades to come.”

John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park, observed, “The Kentucky Horse Park attracts nearly one million visitors each year, including tens of thousands of competitors, so we believe this will be an ideal location to showcase the outstanding achievements of the men, women and horses who have devoted their talents, resources and hearts to the sport of show jumping.”“We are truly honored to provide a home for these time honored pieces of our history,” stated USHJA President, Bill Moroney. “The Show Jumping Hall of Fame collection provides us with a greater opportunity to market our sport and teach the community about the rich history of show jumping. This collection will be one of the marquee exhibits at the USHJA National Hunter Jumper Sport Horse Museum and will support our goal to make the USHJA headquarters a true home for those involved and supportive of our sport.”

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame was established in 1987 and it formally opened at Busch Gardens in 1989. The Hall of Fame was organized to promote the sport of show jumping and to immortalize the men, women and horses who have made great contributions to the sport.

From its opening, visitors to the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum have been able to see plaques and mementos honoring heroes who have helped make the sport great. Videos recounting the careers of legendary horses and riders like Gem Twist and Michael Matz are featured, as well as treasures like the USET jacket worn by Bill Steinkraus on his way to the individual Gold Medal at the 1968 Olympic Games and the famed “shooting star” jump used by course designer Bert deNemethy in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Now, horse lovers from around the world who travel to the Kentucky Horse Park will have the same opportunity to enjoy them.

“We are most grateful for our time at Busch Gardens,” said Morris, “but now as our sport and our Hall of Fame move forward, relocating to the Kentucky Horse Park makes perfect sense. We hope all fans of horse sports will plan to come see our Hall of Fame at our new home in Kentucky!”

As part of its effort to promote the sport, the Show Jumping Hall of Fame conducts the Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, a series held under Grand Prix rules and specifications with classes at more than 100 horse shows across the country and Year-End Championships at the National Horse Show in November. The series hosts separate divisions for junior and amateur-owner riders in two Conferences—the East Conference and the West Conference. Series standings are used to help determine junior and amateur-owner entries for the National Horse Show.

The USHJA is committed to advancing and representing the hunter and jumper disciplines by fostering an educated community of equestrians that promotes the welfare of the horse and fairness in competition. The United States Hunter Jumper Association is a not-for-profit organization recognized under IRS code 501(c)(3). Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet that hosted nearly 8700,000 visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 100 special events and horse shows in 2009. The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations. Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is the place to get close to horses. Open daily March 15 to Oct 31 and Wednesday through Sunday, Nov 1 to March 14.